Eastern Europe threw off communist rule for democracy. The Soviet Union also broke apart.
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
introducing the policies of perestroika and glasnost
Glasnot was a signal to other countries that they could get rid of communism.
It pointed the way for Mikhail S. Gorbachev's reform program twenty years.
David S. Collier has written: 'Berlin and the future of Eastern Europe' -- subject(s): Politics and government, Politics, Berlin question (1945- ), Europe, Eastern, History, Eastern Europe
Gorbachev's two major policies were glasnost and perestroika, which means openness and restructuring. He welcomed criticism of the government, which was never before allowed in the U.S.S.R. He wanted to reform or restructure the economy and especially the communist party within U.S.S.R. He allowed freedom of press and released political prisoners. He encouraged the rulers of the eastern European countries to adopt the same policies. The people of eastern Europe stood up against the oppressive regimes (although some eastern European rulers did follow in Gorbachev's footsteps and allowed free elections). The people initially feared that the Soviet army would suppress the uprisings like it had before, but Gorbachev did not provide help to the Communist regimes. Hence by 1991, communism was rejected by the eastern Europe.
It was very contagious. The countries of Eastern Europe were excited for the changes and wanted to be a part of them as well.
Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation on December 25, 1991, marked the formal end of the Soviet Union, a pivotal moment in global history. His departure symbolized the collapse of communist rule in Eastern Europe and the dissolution of a superpower that had dominated global politics for decades. Gorbachev's policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) had aimed to reform the Soviet system but ultimately contributed to its downfall, leading to newfound independence for several former Soviet republics. His resignation also heralded a shift towards capitalism and democratic governance in the region.
The Soviet leader when Eastern Europe was freed from Soviet control was Mikhail Gorbachev. His policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) in the late 1980s contributed to the decline of Soviet influence in the region. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe occurred during his tenure, leading to significant political changes and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
They revolted against Gorbachev's leadership
Mikhail Gorbachev's theory primarily revolves around his policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring), aimed at reforming the Soviet Union's political and economic systems. He believed that increased transparency and democratization would revitalize the faltering economy and enable greater public participation in governance. Gorbachev's approach sought to address the stagnation of the USSR while also fostering better relations with the West, ultimately leading to the end of the Cold War and significant changes in Eastern Europe. His efforts, however, also contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.